System and method for providing dynamically alterable computer clusters for message routing

Patent 5918017 Issued on June 29, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 23, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Assignee

international Business Machines Corporation

Application

No. 701939 filed on 08/23/1996

US Classes:

709/224, Computer network monitoring709/239, Alternate path routing709/242Routing data updating

Examiners

Primary: Hindi, Nabil

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Ludwin; Richard M., Dougherty; Anne V., Jordan; Kevin M.

International Class

G06F 003/00

Abstract

A TCP-connection-router performs encapsulated clustering by dividing each encapsulated cluster into several Virtual EC (VECs), dynamically distributing incoming connections within a VEC based on current server load metrics according to a configurable policy. In one embodiment, the connection router supports dynamic configuration of the cluster, and enables transparent recovery which provides uninterrupted service to the VEC clients.